Interview with Local band Prairie Scout on the creative process behind their new album ‘What’s Ahead is Behind Me’

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Bloomington-based indie rock group Prairie Scout recently discussed their first album, “What’s Ahead is Behind Me,” in an interview with the Indiana Daily Student. Lead singer and songwriter Natalie Ingalls, along with drummer Wesley Davis, shed light on the band’s creative process and musical influences.

Prairie Scout, consisting of Ingalls, Davis, bassist Julia Fegelman, and guitarist John Hasey, officially came together as a band in 2024, with Ingalls already penning songs a year earlier. The album’s production kicked off in April 2024, starting with preliminary tracking at a Jacobs School of Music studio. The band then spent two full days in May working with Max DiFrisco, Ingall’s partner and the album’s producer.

When asked about the album’s production process, Ingalls revealed that several tracks were initially written by herself in October 2022, such as “Undergrowth,” with more songs following over the next nine months before the band’s formation. Following Prairie Scout’s inception in August 2023, the band collaborated on various existing and partially completed songs over the next nine months, fleshing them out collectively.

Throughout the album, themes inspired by the natural world are prevalent in both production and lyrics. Ingalls delved into her inspiration, revealing that nocturnal walks often spark her creativity. The cyclical nature of life and patterns in nature heavily influenced her writing, with Marcus Sedwick’s book, “The Ghost of Heaven,” serving as a key source of inspiration. The concept of spirals and the repetition of life’s patterns serve as core themes throughout the album’s lyrics, paying homage to the earth’s revolutions and the concept of cyclical existence.

Drummer Wesley Davis elaborated on the band’s intention to infuse a landscape-like ambiance into their music. Davis and Fegelman incorporated rain sounds and atmospheric elements into the album, drawing inspiration from contemporary indie bands and folk music. Field recordings of rain captured on their phones added a gritty, organic quality to their sound, blending modern indie styles with a touch of traditional folk storytelling.

Prairie Scout’s debut album can be seen as a testament to their collective creativity and their willingness to explore themes of nature, cycles of life, and the interconnectedness of existence. Through a blend of individual songwriting efforts and collaborative band dynamics, “What’s Ahead is Behind Me” stands as an intricate tapestry of musical storytelling that captivates listeners with its fusion of indie rock sensibilities and thoughtful introspection.

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